Choose Serious Sam 4
Choose Serious Sam 4 if you want an Indie and Adventure experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 82.8% positive across 5,007 reviews.
Serious Sam 4 vs Painkiller
Serious Sam 4 and Painkiller both land in Action on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Action games on Steam. Serious Sam 4 (2020) is 5 years older than Painkiller (2025). Serious Sam 4 scores higher on Steam reviews (82.8% positive) than Painkiller (59.8% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Painkiller
Choose Painkiller if you want the Adjustable Text Size, Subtitle Options, and Color Alternatives side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 75% cheaper on the Steam Store. Painkiller launched in 2025.
Both Serious Sam 4 and Painkiller sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Serious Sam 4 |  Painkiller | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 82.8% positive (5,007 reviews) | 59.8% positive (368 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Croteam | Anshar Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Serious Sam 4 (2020) is 5 years older than Painkiller (2025).
- Serious Sam 4 scores higher on Steam reviews (82.8% positive) than Painkiller (59.8% positive).
- Painkiller is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Serious Sam 4 (9.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Serious Sam 4 is Deck Verified, Painkiller is Deck Playable.
Serious Sam 4 vs Painkiller — FAQ
- Which is better, Serious Sam 4 or Painkiller?
- On Steam reviews Serious Sam 4 scores higher (82.8% positive) than Painkiller (59.8% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Serious Sam 4 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Serious Sam 4 or Painkiller first?
- If you want chronology, Serious Sam 4 (2020) came out before Painkiller (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Serious Sam 4 and Painkiller similar?
- They overlap on Action on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Serious Sam 4 and Painkiller have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Serious Sam 4 ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Painkiller ships Online Co-op, Co-op.